Portmanteau-frame.



No. 659,878. Patented Det. I6, |900. W. F. SMITH.V

PonTMANTEAu FRAME.

(Application led Aug, 15` 1900.)

(No Modaal.)

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'Y STATES Parnr ritieni...

WILLIAM F. SMITH, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE GORI'IAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PORTMANTEU-FRAIVI E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,878, dated October 16, 1900.

Application filed August 15, 1900. Serial No. 26.975. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it 777.607/ concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and usefulImprovementin Portmanteau-Fraines, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention has reference to an improvement in the frame of a portmanteau, portemonnaie, traveling-bag, 01 similar folding receptacle.

The invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction of the hinge whereby the frame may be locked in the open position, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

In traveling-bags and other receptacles in which a folding frame is used to control the opening it is desirable at times to hold the frame in the open position, so that articles may be more readily inserted or removed.

The object of this invention is to provide the frame of such bags with a latch by which the frame is held in the open position.

Figure l is an end view of the folding frame, showing the same in the open position in solid lines and in the closed position in broken lines. Fig. 2 is an end view of the pivotal connection of the frame, on an enlarged scale, part of the frame being removed to show the latch in the locked position. Fig. 3 is an end View of the pivotal connection of the frame, showing the latch in the unlocked position. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line Y Y of Fig. 2.

Similar marks of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

In the drawings, A indicates one arm of the outer frame, and B one arm of the inner frame. These frames are secured to the two parts of the bag or purse. The frames are pivotallysecured to each other, and when folded the arm B folds within the arm A, thereby closing the bag or other receptacle.

To the arm A, I secure the ring ce, preferably by means of the rivets a a', and to the arm B, I secure the ring I), preferably by the rivets b h. The ring h fits into the ring a and may be rotated Within the ring a. In the .ring b a recess is formed in which is placed the pawl b2, the heel h3 of which rests in a recess in the ring Z), in which it may turn. The spring b4, secured to the ring ZJ, extends through a peripheral groove in the ring b and bears on the under side of the pawl b2. In the inner circular edge of the ring a. the recess a2is formed, into which the pawl b2 will be lifted when the pawl reaches the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the frame is open and is held in the open position by the pawl entering the recess a2. To disengage the pawl b2 from the recess in the ring a, the segmental latch c, having the web c', is pivotally secured at one end to the ring a, the web o' bearing on the back of the pawl b2. \Vhen pressure is exerted on the latch c, the pawl h2 may be moved out of the recess a2 against the force of the spring h4.

The parts are secured together by means of the central pivot d, preferably surrounded by the sleeve d', by which the arms A and B of the frame are separated to secure the required clearance of the rings o. and h to prevent binding.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In the frame of an article of the nature herein described, a hinge formed of two concentric rings in the adjacent edges of one of which rings a pawl is placed and in the other a recess formed; whereby the frame may be secured in a predetermined open position, as described.

2. In the frame of bags, the combination with the arms of the frame, of two concentric rings one of each of which is secured to one and one to the other of the two adjoining ends of the arms of the frame, a pivot in the center of the concentric rings, a pawl on one, and a recess on the other of the concentric rings; whereby the folding frame may be locked in the open position, as described.

3. In a frame of the nature described, the combination with the hinge connecting the arms of the frame, of two concentric circular members, a recess on one member, a pawl on the other member, and a latch, whereby the frame may be locked in the open position and unlocked, as described.

4. In a bag-frame, the combination With the arms A and B, of the rings a and b, the pivot d, the recess a? in the ring a, the pawl b2 in the ring b, the spring b4 acting on the paWl, and the latch pivoted on the ring d :o and engaging with the pawl, whereby the frame may be locked and nniocked, as described.

In. testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM F. SMITH. Witnesses:

A. E. HAGERTY, J. A. MILLER, Jr. 

